A Beautiful Blunder Autograph

[Rob Wick]

I recently purchased a copy of William E. Barton's book on the Bixby Letter titled A Beautiful Blunder (Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1926). The book cost $45, but given that a limited number of copies were printed, I figured the cost would be higher. When I got the book the other day, I found the following written on the inside front cover.

https://s27.postimg.org/7sv2do2zn/Bixby.jpg

Of course, the Bill Bixby who supposedly owned this is THE Bill Bixby of "Incredible Hulk" fame. I'm wondering what the opinion is of forum members as to whether this really is him. The only sample of his handwriting that I could find was a check he had written. Looking at the signature, there are similarities in the autograph and the check. The "W" in Wilfred looks the same as do the "i," "l," and especially the "f" which hangs down considerably below the line.

But I wonder? Was Lydia Bixby an ancestor to Bill Bixby? Bill Bixby, according to Wikipedia, was a fourth-generation Californian while Lydia Bixby died and is buried in Massachusetts. Of course, whomever wrote this didn't say that he was a direct descendent, but was a "relative to the Bixby Ancestors & the famous Lincoln letter to Mrs. Lydia Bixby."

If this is indeed Bill Bixby's handwriting, I don't feel so bad paying $45 for the book. But I'm just not sure. Any opinions?

Best
Rob